(Reclaiming Safety and Self-Perception After Trauma) Overview Body dysmorphia isn’t vanity—it’s a trauma echo. It’s when your reflection becomes a battlefield between perception and reality. Survivors of abuse, neglect, or chronic shame often internalise the gaze of those who once controlled, criticised, or violated them. The body becomes a scapegoat for pain that was never yours to carry. You may not even “see” your body accurately; you feel it through fear, disgust, or hyper-awareness. For many with CPTSD, dysmorphia begins as protective dissociation—the mind’s attempt to detach from sensations too painful to inhabit. But as safety returns, disconnection morphs into distorted self-image. Healing means learning to re-enter your body as a safe home again. How to Recognise It You might notice yourself obsessively scanning mirrors, avoiding photographs, or picking apart details no one else sees. Compliments can feel like lies. You may fixate on perceived “flaws,” comparing yourse...